Drinking and Driving in St Barth

With the holiday celebrations in full swing, be careful of drinking and driving. The penalties are stiff. Recently, an American citizen was stopped for an alcohol test while driving a rental car. She tested positive with 0.50 mg of alcohol per liter of air exhaled. The penalty? She was asked to pay the fine of 800 euros and to leave the island if she didn’t want to go before a judge. That’s one fast way to ruin your vacation! Under French law, the legal level of alcohol in the blood is 0.5 grams per liter of blood. If you have up to 0.8 grams, you risk a fine of 135 euros. Higher than that level, if there hasn’t been an accident, you must pay a fine immediately. If there has been an accident, you must go before the judge. The sentence for drunk driving can be up to two years in prison and up to 4500 euros in fines. Think before you drink!

La Poste Commemorates the New Collectivity

To commemorate the new Collectivity of St Barth, La Poste designed a pre-stamped envelope with a photo of the Hôtel de la Collectivité and the date of July 15, 2007, which was when St Barth’s new political status became a reality. These commemorative envelopes were presented on August 24, the day of the festival of the patron saint of St Barth. Ten thousand of the pre-stamped envelopes are available for sale at La Poste for 0.90 each. As the first philatelic product of the Collectivity of St Barth, the pre-stamped envelopes could become a collector’s item.

Major Renovation Underway for Hôpital de Bruyn

The Hôpital de Bruyn in Gustavia was built in 1933 and has been long overdue for renovations to bring it up to the standards of a modern hospital befitting the island. Work began on Monday, September 24, with the total cost estimated at 3.5 million euros, and is expected to take 18 months. A new section measuring 500 m2 and consisting of two stories will house an area for local procedures and a pharmacy on the first floor. The second floor will have ten beds for medical patients and seven beds for caring for people on a longer term basis. The original part of the hospital will have space for various activities, such as preparation for childbirth, along with rooms for the personal items of the staff, the administrative offices and a room for get-togethers. The section currently used for emergencies and consultations will remain unchanged.

The Arawak Has Arrived

The bronze statue of the Arawak was erected on August 20 at La Tourmente, the circle at the top of the hill in St Jean that leads to Gustavia, Colombier or Flamands. In 2004, St Barth invited all residents to submit ideas for some type of artwork to grace this spot. In June, 2005, the winner was selected from among 53 submissions. And the winner was a 1.7-meter bronze sculpture of an Arawak Indian, the original inhabitants of St Barth. At the base of the sculpture are an iguana and a pelican – two symbols of the island. The Arawak holds a spear in his right hand and is blowing a conch shell with his left hand. A popular St Barth forum is having a “Name the Arawak” contest, and one suggestion is an Arawak word: "kas-se-qua" meaning “Chief of the Hill or Tribe.” What could be more perfect?

Enjoy the Last Beach Festivals

August 24 brings the Patron Saint Feast Day, the Festival of St Barthélémy. He’s certainly my favorite saint! Church and official ceremonies will be held as well as regattas, music, dancing and fireworks in Gustavia. A special event this year, hosted by the Ouanalo Association in collaboration with the Collectivity of St Barthélémy, is a contest to vote for “Little Miss and Mister St Barth 2007” for children aged 6 to 9 years.

And last but not least, is the final beach festival: the 44th celebration of the Festival of St Louis in the quaint fishing village of Corossol on Saturday, August 25. The festival kicks off at 6:30 am when the boats depart for the fishing contest of orphies. The day is packed full of events, culminating at 8:30 pm with fireworks followed by music and dancing on “le Pont de la Jeunesse.” Here’s the full schedule. As usual, food and drink will be available during the day and evening.

8:00 am Mass at the base of the rock of Saint-Louis
9:00 am Bélote competition
10:00 am Departure of two regattas: Optimists sailboats and traditional canoes
10:30 am ‘Baby-foot” competition and beach volleyball tournament
11:00 am Various games on the beach
12:30 pm Honorary wine and music; awarding of the prizes for the competitions
2:00 pm Canoe and kayak classes
3:30 pm Various games
6:30 pm Dance exhibition presented by Kim
7:30 pm Raffle drawing. First prize if a 7-day cruise on the Costa cruise line for two people; second prize if a computer and HP printer; third prize if a Samsung digital DVD camcorder; fourth prize is a weed blower; fifth prize is a teak coffee table. Remaining prizes include a vacuum cleaner, DVD player, man’s watch and a portable air compressor. Tickets are 5 €.
8:00 pm Skit portraying the years of yore
8:30 pm Fireworks followed by music and dancing

Allô! St Barths – Check Out this New Web Site!

A new, feature-rich, interactive website about St Barth is now operational and open for business. With a free membership, members can post news items, add events to the events calendar, rate content, add comments, buy or sell items, participate in discussion forums, and write personal weblogs. Fun, informative, and insightful content is available for tourists with an easy-to-navigate interface.

Tom Kapanka (left in photo) has been working over the last nine months to bring the latest online tools to the local community, businesses, and tourist industry on St Barth. The site is designed to serve the needs of these three sectors. Visitors are encouraged to sign up and participate in the site directly. Content is being added and updated daily, and can be quickly searched. All island businesses are listed, free of charge, in the Guide section. Business listings provide photos, contact information, hours of operation, and more. Residents can use the free tools such as classifieds and events calendars to save time and money. Tourists can find the information they need to have a safe, smooth, and unforgettable experience.

For additional information, visit http://www.allostbarths.com or contact Tom Kapanka at sales@st.barths.com. Advertising space is available.

Keeping Traditions Alive

A pirogue, similar to a canoe, has been used since the arrival of the first St Barths. However, this traditional canoe was at risk of disappearing. Fortunately, the Unesco club is involved in the building of a true St Barth pirogue, following the traditional methods. The pirogue is 18 feet long and is made from the trunk of a gommier tree that arrived from Dominica last April 26. The gommier is native to St Barth, but most were destroyed by Hurricane Luis in 1995. The pirogue is awaiting its last coat of paint and will be inaugurated on August 15. It will be on display, but will also be put into the water for events such as the arrival of the Transat Ag2r, the summer beach festivals and regattas, to name a few.

A Day at the Hotel St Barth Isle de France

Until August 31, you can spend a day of pampered bliss at the Hotel St Barth Isle de France in Flamands for only 95 €. This special offer includes a fruit cocktail, either an appetizer and main dish or a main dish and dessert at the hotel’s restaurant, a discount at the boutique and your choice of the following three treatments at The Spa: a massage, a facial and other face care treatments, or a body polish and surprise gift. The Hotel St Barth Isle de France is a beautiful, posh hotel located directly on the spectacular beach of Flamands. Subscribers to Condé Nast Traveler magazine judged this hotel the #1 hotel in the Caribbean and #16 worldwide based on rooms, service, restaurant and location. Be sure to take advantage of this offering for a memorable experience!

French Gypsy Music at the Carl Gustaf

From July 19 until August 21, the Carl Gustaf Hotel in Gustavia is hosting musician Richard Manetti on Thursday and Fridays evenings at its Sunset Bar, starting at 6:00 pm. Manetti plays jazz manouche, “Gypsy jazz”, and was heavily influenced by guitarist Django Reinhardt, who was popular in the 1930s. Reinhardt combined the dark, chromatic Gypsy flavor with the Swing music that was popular at the time. The combination of Gypsy music with swing is critical to the style of “jazz manouche.” In this style of music, the rhythm guitar is playing using a percussive technique, “la pompe”, that serves to replace drums.
Manetti has been playing the guitar since age 10 and will be accompanied by Christophe Lagane or Natacha Lockwood.

Summer Evenings at Le Ti St-Barth

Le Ti St-Barth, a Caribbean tavern and restaurant located in Pointe Milou, has a different event planned for each day of the week throughout August.

On Mondays, you’re invited to the Marrakech Party with belly dancers, shopping at “Ti Souk”, and fresh mint tea. Couscous Royal is served for dinner along with traditional accompaniments for 59 €. The theme every Tuesday is “Night Fever.” Dress code is “wigs and colors.” Wednesday nights go a little retro with the “Plastic Boots Party” mixed by Carole, the owner. The dress code, of course, is plastic boots. Thursday is “Angel Night” when everyone is asked to wear white. “The Crazy Nights” take place on Friday and Saturday. It is almost certain that you’ll see people dancing on the tables and…well, you’ll just have to find out for yourself!

Reservations are recommended: 05 90 27 97 71 or info@ksplaces.com. Closed on Sundays.

Premium IV Now Offers Wedding Planning Services

Premium IV, whose office is located in St Jean, provides VIP concierge services including assistance with arrival and departure, yacht and villa provisioning and special events. They have contracted over 120 companies to provide the best products and services available. Now, in addition to their already broad array of services, they are offering assistance with planning a wedding and/or honeymoon on beautiful St Barth. Assistance is available with catering, decorations, fireworks, flowers, musicians, photographers, transportation, hotels, lighting, and more.

For a complete list of their wedding planning services, including required legal documentation, visit their web site or call them at 011 590 590 290 007. (Please note that 011 is required when calling from the United States.) Since Premium IV’s very amiable management comes from Canada, Britain and France, you’ll be able to communicate easily in English or French. Bon mariage!

American Airlines Imposes a Baggage Embargo

Due to expectations of high passenger traffic this summer, American Airlines enforced an embargo on boxes and additional baggage on June 9 for those traveling to and from many Caribbean destinations. The baggage embargo applies to Santo Domingo, Santiago, Puerto Plata, Port-au-Prince and Kingston as well as all American Eagle flights to and from San Juan. While St Maarten is not listed, it would be prudent to check with American before heading to the airport. In addition, American has imposed a year-round box embargo for flights originating from and passing through New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to all Caribbean and Latin America destinations.

Oversize, overweight and excess baggage will not be accepted for flights to the targeted destinations. Passengers may check two bags weighing a maximum of 50 pounds each at no charge. The maximum weight for cities on the embargo list is 70 pounds. Bags weighing between 51 and 70 pounds are subject to a $25 fee. One carry-on bag will be allowed with a maximum size of 45” and a maximum weight of 40 pounds. Sports equipment, such as golf bags, bikes and surfboards, will be accepted as part of the total checked bag allowance; additional charges may apply. Walkers, wheelchairs and any other assistive devices are welcomed for customers with disabilities.

Welcome to Saline Beach!

Located on the southern coast, Saline is a large, unspoiled expanse of white sand and rolling surf. There is a good-sized parking lot just past the salt pond. From there, you must walk up the rocky path and over the dunes to reach the beach. The view, as you reach the crest, is spectacular and makes the walk well worth the effort. If you continue walking left, you will arrive at another beautiful bay, known locally as Petit Saline. You will need to walk over some large rocks to reach this beach, but the path is short and not difficult. Petit Saline is a small, beautiful, crescent bay, and there are usually not more that four to six other people on the beach. Although nude sunbathing is not legal in St Barth, Saline beach is known and tolerated for its nude sunbathers. The mountains behind the beach are home to wild goats, which can be seen and heard at different times throughout the day. Although there are no restaurants or bars directly on the beach, there are three restaurants just before you arrive at the parking lot.

The Hideaway - A Favorite of Locals and Tourists
A local favorite and one of the best values on the island, The Hideaway was the winner for the Best Pizza in the 2004 Best of St Barth Awards. Qwned by the very amiable Andy Hall, The Hideaway, or Chez Andy as it is called locally, serves a variety of dishes suitable for lunch or dinner. Dishes range from huge salads, steak and fries, shrimp, pasta, and a large selection of delicious pizzas. Enjoy an informal, relaxed setting with ceiling fans in the center of St. Jean. In addition to the regular menu, The Hideaway offers a plat du jour at lunchtime for 10 €. Closed on Mondays. Dinner only on Sundays. Major credit cards are accepted.
Lunch: 12:00 – 2:00
Dinner: 7:00 – 10:30

Phone: (590 590) 27 63 62

Full menu

Big Savings at the Hotel Guanahani & Spa

From now until October 31, 2007, the Hotel Guanahani & Spa is offering a special rate where US$1 = 1 euro. With the current exchange rate, this is a savings of 34% to 36%! The Guanahani Hotel & Spa, located on the northeastern coast of St Barts at Grand Cul de Sac on a 15-acre peninsula, is a member of the Leading Small Hotels of the World. One of its beaches is on the calm waters of Grand Cul de Sac with a beach bar, while the other faces the ocean. The hotel was completely renovated in 2004 and offers 69 rooms: 30 suites, 14 of which have their own pool; 38 double rooms; and one three-bedroom suite with a pool and ocean view. The hotel boasts a new state-of-the-art Clarins spa (the only Clarins spa on the island), a large swimming pool with a Jacuzzi, room service, a boutique, air-conditioning, ceiling fans, a gym, two tennis courts, two restaurants, wireless internet, satellite TV and three internet work stations.

Phone: 05 90 27 66 60
Fax: 05 90 27 70 70
USA Toll Free: 800-223-6800
Email: guanahani@wanadoo.fr

Web Site: www.leguanahani.com

For those of you don’t like to snorkel or dive but would love to see the abundant underwater life of St Barth, you can now schedule a one-hour trip on Plongée Caraïbes’ new Yellow Submarine. The trip leaves from the quay in Gustavia and will take you through the Marine Park and around Gros Ilets, toward Les Petits Saints where you will see schools of colorful fish, sea turtles, coral reefs and three wrecks, including one of the yacht Non Stop. The two crew members will provide information about the marine life and St Barth. The submarine remains on the surface while you view the underwater world of St Barth six feet below the surface through 24 large windows along the sides, plus one large window in the front and the back. The new submarine, built in Europe, can carry 22 passengers and departs at 10:30 am and 2:30 pm. The price is 40 euros for adults and 25 euros for children. Contact Plongée Caraïbes at 590 590 52 40 51 to make reservations.

Live from St Barth!

The next time the weather is stormy and the cold winds are blowing, take a look at a live shot from St Barth from one of the following Web cam sites. At the same time, you can listen to music on one of the local radio stations. Add a piña colada or a ti punch, and you’re almost here. Guaranteed to lift your spirits!

Web Cam Sites
View of St Jean Bay from Lurin
http://www.st-barths.com/a_cam/index.html

View of the Corossol Bay, a quaint fishing village
http://www.corossol.info/productssimple32.html

View of the air strip in St Jean
http://perso.orange.fr/sbh1/webcam.html


Radio Stations
www.saintbarth-tvradio.com
www.radiostbarth.com

Getting from St Maarten to St Barth

You've made it as far as St Maarten. Now what? You can always book a flight on one of the small commuter flights from Princess Juliana International Airport. But, if you don't like small planes and dramatic landings, you might want to consider taking The Voyager, a high-speed ferry that leaves from Marigot or Oyster Pond. The trip from Marigot, on the French side of St Maarten, takes 75 minutes; from Oyster Pond, it takes 40 minutes. A taxi from the airport to Marigot will cost you $20, and you'll pay $30 for a taxi from the airport to Oyster Pond. A round-trip ticket costs 71 euros for adults and 35 euros for children under 12. To check their schedule and to make reservations, visit their web site at http://www.voyager-st-barths.com/us/index.php.

Live Music at BAZ -- On the Harbor

Bêtes de L’Azailes, or BAZ, is a bar and restaurant on the harbor in Gustavia that features excellent sushi and a different American band each month. When Jimmy Buffet makes one of his frequent trips to the island, you can usually find him playing here one night -- always unannounced. The music starts at 9:00 pm and there is no cover charge. Check out their web site at http://www.st-barths.com/baz/baz_fun.html.

Causeway Duo, a pop, folk, and R&B singer-songwriter duo that has shared the stage with Gavin DeGraw, Tyler Hilton, Amos Lee and Kyler England, will be playing May 2 through May 28. They have toured all over New England, performed at many college campuses, Connecticut casinos, and New York City nightclubs. Their music is influenced by Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, James Taylor, The Beatles, Bruce Hornsby, Talking Head, Jeff Beck and Etta James, to name just a few. Check out their music video on www.myspace.com/causewaymusic or www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAePrA9vjwA

Twelfth St Barth Film Festival

One of the most anticipated events on the island is the annual Film Festival, which takes place this year April 25-30. As always, this year’s line-up of films is sure to captivate the audience. Four feature films, two shorts in 35 mm and several video screenings make up this year’s program. Ellen Lampert-Gréaux, co-founder of the festival, has also invited many of the films’ directors to present their films and answer questions from the audience. The films are projected on the large white wall at the A.J.O.E. tennis courts in Lorient, where non-alcoholic drinks, popcorn, T-shirts and baseball caps can be purchased. Admission is 5 € per night or five nights for 25 €. All films are either in French or have French subtitles. All films are shown at A.J.O.E. in Lorient unless otherwise noted.

Wednesday, April 25 at 8:00 pm
Saudade Do Futuro by César Paes and Marie-Clémence Paes
90 minutes, Brazil, 2001, 35mm
Portuguese with French subtitles
This film depicts Sao Paulo as seen through the eyes of a group from northern Brazil who move to the city in search of work and a better life.

Thursday, April 26 at 8:00 pm
Rolling Family by Pablo Trapero
103 minutes, Argentina, 2004, 35mm
Spanish with French subtitles
A humorous movie that follows the road trip of an 84-year-old grandmother who has been invited to be the matron of honor at a wedding. Her entire family accompanies her and sets out in an old camping car to make the voyage.

Friday, April 27 at 8:00 pm
Il était une fois— Sasha et Désiré by Cécile Vernant
25 minutes, Martinique/France, 2006, 35mm
This short film is the story of a love affair between Sasha and Désiré. Presented as a flashback, Sasha relates the story of their meeting in France in the 1930s to her great grandchildren in Martinique.

35th Anniversary: The Harder They Come by Perry Henzell
98 minutes, Jamaica, 1972, 35 mm
English with French subtitles
Shown at the first Film Festival in 1996, this ever popular film is being presented again to pay homage to Perry Henzell, who passed away in December 2006 and to celebrate its 35th anniversary. The film tells the story of a boy (Jimmy Cliff) who moved to Kingston to try to fulfill his dreams of becoming a singer. We all know how that ended!

Saturday, April 28 at 3:00 pm at the Capitainerie, Gustavia
Port-au-Prince, ma ville by Rigoberto Lopez and Frantz Voltaire
52 minutes, documentary, Haïti
This film is part of a special Traveling Showcase of Caribbean Cinema organized in conjunction with UNESCO. A roundtable on Caribbean Cinema will also be conducted.

Saturday, April 28 at 8:00 pm
Pan’s Labyrinth by Guillermo del Toro
112 minutes, Spain/US/Mexico, 2006, 35mm
No one under 12 years old admitted
Spanish with French subtitles
This horror/fantasy film premiered at the Cannes film festival in 2006 and, subsequently, won three Academy Awards for Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction and Best Make-up.

Sunday, April 29 at 7:00 pm at the Capitainerie, Gustavia
Lanmou a bois (A Passion For Wood) by Janluk Stanislas
15 minutes, documentary, Guadeloupe, 2006, video
A short film about woodworkers from Pointe Noire, Guadeloupe.

De mémoire d’anciens (Memories of Our Past) by Victoire Theismann
52 minutes
World premiere of a documentary about the history of St Barth as seen through the memories of its elders, from secret travel to St Thomas to working in the salt flats to the modernization of the island.

Monday, April 30 at 8:00 pm
Adolfo de Sofi Delaage by Sofi Delaage
43 minutes, France/Cuba, 2005, 35mm
Spanish with French subtitles
Adolfo is a taxi driver in Havana whose car is always in need of repair. The film is the story of a man torn between the wish to leave his native Cuba and the love he has for his tumultuous country.

Live at BAZ

The Evan Goodrow Band is playing at Bêtes de L’Azailes, a bar and restaurant on the harbor in Gustavia, from March 5 through March 31. The music starts at 9:00 pm and there is no cover charge. The band features Evan Goodrow, whose formal training was as a jazz guitarist; Rick Oneal, on bass guitar, vocals and cowbell, who has opened for such bands as Kansas, Jefferson Starship, B.B. King, Etta James, George Thorogood, Little Feat and Bonnie Raitt; Carl Benevides on saxophone, vocals and percussion, who directs jazz ensembles, concert and marching bands and serves as a Director on the Executive Board of the New Hampshire Music Educator’s Association when not touring with the band; and Phil Antoniades on drums and percussion. They describe their music as “funked-up street jazz and blues-tinged soul.” Listen to some sound clips on their web site at www.evangoodrow.com.

Airline and St Maarten Airport Updates

To get to St Barth, you must first get to St Maarten. From there, you can either take a ferry or fly from Princess Juliana International Airport. Below are a few updates regarding issues with airlines and the airport. More information on the ferry later.

US Airways The recent merging of US Airways with America West has created some temporary problems at the airport in St Maarten. As reported by a traveler to St Barth, this past Monday, all technology was shut down. As a result, hundreds of passengers missed flights and waited in lines at the confirmation desk for up to 3 hours. “The airline has adopted the computer system from America West and the ticket agents at SXM have not been properly trained how to use the system. There was frustration all around, with people outraged, screaming, being taken aside, and removed from planes.” If you’re flying US Airways to get to St Barths soon, call ahead and plan for some extra travel time.

Spirit Airlines Spirit Airlines is scheduled to begin service from their Ft. Lauderdale hub to St Maarten at the end of April. Depending on when you purchase your ticket, you may be charged for each piece of checked luggage. "For customers who purchased tickets prior to December 15, 2006, for each ticketed passenger, Spirit Airlines will transport two (2) bags as checked luggage free of charge. For customers who purchased tickets between December 15, 2006 and March 6, 2007, Spirit Airlines will transport one (1) piece of luggage at no charge per fare-paying customer. For customers who purchased tickets on or after March 6, 2007 for travel on or after June 20, 2007, charges will apply to each item transported as checked luggage. Spirit Airlines can only guarantee the transportation of one (1) item as checked luggage per fare paying customer. Additional bags can be paid for on a first-served basis; but Spirit cannot guarantee that there will be space for extra bags, and will not be held responsible for any additional items brought to the airport by the customer. Please note that space is extremely limited on certain flights."